Shoe or Shoe Insert for a Shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe 1 or an inlay 3 for a shoe 1 having a pocket-like slot 7 integrated in the shoe 1 or in the inlay 3 for at least one wedge-like insert 8, 9, which provides a good structure and corresponding support for the human foot 50 or longitudinal arch 51. The insert 8, 9 is fixed in the pocket-like slot 7, so that it always retains its optimal support position for the foot 50 even with changing loads.

This application claims the benefit of German Application No. 10 2020 134 862.2 filed Dec. 23, 2020 and German Application No. 10 2021 129 081.3 filed Nov. 9, 2021, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sandal, with a bottom outsole and an upper insole with footbed, if necessary one or more midsoles and a closure fixing the shoe or sandal on the foot of the wearer.

In addition, the invention relates to an inlay for a shoe or sandal having a bottom outsole and an upper insole with footbed and one or more midsoles.

Good footwear is especially important for people for health reasons, mainly for orthopedic reasons. Basically, it can be said that an optimal adaptation of footwear to the physiognomy of the foot makes sense from an orthopedic point of view. So far, however, the possibilities of adapting shoes are limited. People buy new shoes and then often only after multiple use realize that they are not sufficiently adapted to the foot. Often insoles are then bought and used whose primary purpose is orthopedic and that are placed on the insole and thus take over the function of the “old” insole, whereby the old insole must then be removed and the new one should correspond exactly to the shape of the foot, otherwise it comes to displacements of the insoles and thus to pain. Especially suitable for inlays and sandals is a so-called interchangeable footbed. The footbed can be removed completely and replaced with an individual insole. The shoe has a perfect fit and the foot has enough space. With such shoes with interchangeable footbeds, unlike regular footbeds, the insole is not glued, but is loose and may slip under certain circumstances. This interchangeable footbed can be easily removed and replaced with others, with orthopedic inlays often being inserted. It is advantageous that it is thus possible through these interchangeable foot beds to integrate the wearer's “own” sole, which is exactly aligned to the respective foot, in the shoe. However, the disadvantage is that these interchangeable footbeds can also slip under certain circumstances, so that it can lead to unfortunate impacts on the foot or the sole of the foot, which can lead to considerable impairments and pain.

Based on this prior art, the present invention has the object of creating a shoe, in particular a sandal, which can also be easily adapted to the foot of the wearer in retrospect. The same applies to an inlay for such a shoe.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that a pocket-like slot is provided integrated in the shoe or the sandal and arranged between the outsole and insole, for at least one wedge-like insert for support and adaptation to the longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, the insert having on its underside a locking means corresponding with the bottom of the holder and adapted to it and separable from the pocket-like slot. With a sandal or a shoe designed in this way, the exact support area of the longitudinal arch, which is important for wearing comfort, can be adapted to the respective wearer, whereby it is easily possible to change the insert until the correct insert for the respective wearing comfort is found. Once inserted, this wedge-like insert cannot move in the pocket-like slot, but is held in the first position and advantageously only this insert needs to be changed, not the entire sole, as with the well-known interchangeable footbeds. Since the wedge-like insert could be pushed out again from the pocket-like slot under load by the foot, according to the invention a lock is provided, which is achieved in that the slot and the insert have corresponding locking means or countermeasures, which after the wedge-like inlay is inserted into the pocket-like slot-like securely prevent slipping out again even under heavy load by the foot. As a rule, the insole remains unchanged, i.e. the footbed is present and supports the adaptation to the arch. Of course, an insole without a footbed can also be used.

The same applies in proportion to an inlay, in which a pocket-like slot is then integrated, in which corresponding wedge-like inserts are to be inserted, if the desired wearing comfort can be expected. Here, too, the wedge-like insert and the pocket-like slot can be equipped with corresponding locking or countermeasures, so that the wedge-like insert once inserted can only be deliberately removed from the pocket-like slot.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the pocket-like slot is arranged on the inside of the shoe or sandal or the inlay. The normal viewer can therefore not easily recognize from the normal shoe or the inlay that this involves a correctable inlay.

In addition, the invention provides that the pocket-like slot is arranged in the area of the shoe or the inlay corresponding with the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer, so that an exchange or a new composition of the slot according to the invention and the inlay has an impact exactly where the adaptation to the foot of the wearer is particularly important and effective, for example in terms of height. For this purpose, one, two or even more of these wedge-like inserts are inserted laterally into a sole of the shoe or into the inlay and clicked into place there.

It is expedient to provide the pocket-like slot below the insole, so that it disappears to a certain extent in the sole or between different soles and leads to a certain balance of edges and corners. It is particularly advantageous if the pocket-like slot is arranged in the midsole or between the midsole and a strap spanning the foot and serving as a closure, so that the strap on the one hand and the insole on the other hand form the two side surfaces of the bag.

In order to ensure a secure fit of the wedge-like insert or inserts in the slot, it is provided that the pocket-like slot has the shape of a circle segment, for which of course the insert should be correspondingly designed and arranged, especially with regard to its height.

For the purpose of realizing the mentioned pocket for the slot of the various inserts, it is advantageous if the pocket-like slot is limited on the inside by a seam. This slot, which is limited by the seam, then corresponds exactly with the height adjustment inserts, so that they can be safely and permanently accommodated there.

The insertion of the wedge-like inserts is facilitated according to one embodiment of the invention by the pocket-like slot having a wall that is smoothed and the insertion of the wedge-like inlay is favorably formed or covered with appropriate fabric. Once the insert has reached its end position, it snaps into place as will be explained in more detail later and is protected from unintentional slipping out of the pocket-like slot.

In order to ensure the targeted insertion of the inlay into the slot, the invention provides that the pocket-like slot has notches in the floor and/or in the roof running in the direction of the insert back that correspond to bars that are arranged and formed on the top and/or the bottom of the wedge-like inlay. This means that it is not to be feared that the wedge-like insert will tilt when it is inserted into the slot and an inlay can be changed precisely and fast.

It was already mentioned above that the underside of the inlay and on the other hand the bottom of the slot have corresponding locking means. In addition, according to the invention, it is provided that the locking means located on the underside of the wedge-like inlay is assigned a corresponding counterpart at or in the bottom of the slot. In a further supplementary embodiment of the invention, the insert has pins serving as locking means on its underside and the slot in the bottom has correspondingly shaped and arranged holes acting as a counterpart. In this way, sufficient locking of the inlay in the pocket-like slot can be achieved, e.g. with two pins and two holes.

It proved to be particularly expedient that the insert is made of plastic and insert and pins are designed in one piece. Among other things, this also ensures that the holes in the bottom and the pins on the underside of the inlay always correspond securely with each other, so that when the wedge-like inlay is inserted into the pocket-like slot, the necessary clicking in can always be ensured.

Another form of locking aid or locking device is that in which the insert on its underside and the slot on its bottom have surfaces forming a Velcro fastener, so that after the inlay is inserted into the slot and the corresponding surfaces are reached securing of the inlay in the slot is achieved.

The further development of the invention is characterized with a little more effort, but also good securing of the wedge-like inlay, according to which an elevation forming a locking groove is provided in the insert back of the slot on the bottom at a distance to the insert back, into which a round crosspiece formed on the underside of the wedge-like inlay can be snapped. This also ensures that the wedge-like insert once inserted remains in this position even if the foot of the wearer has an impact on the sandal or shoe.

A further development of the safety catch provides that small magnets are attached to the insert back of the slot, which are correspondingly formed and arranged with a metal wire assigned to the front edge of the wedge-like inlay. These small magnets do not need to be formed too strongly, because several small magnets can by used, which, in conjunction with the metal wire, ensure that the wedge-like insert remains in this position after reaching its final position when a load is applied.

The individual adaptation of the inserts according to the invention further comprises the proposal that the slot is formed for two or more inserts to be arranged on top of each other and to be coupled with each other, which then disappear together in the pocket-like slot to a certain extent. Two such inserts are also secured by pins and adapted holes.

Finally, the invention provides that the wedge-like inserts are different in shape, preferably thickness and/or hardness, so that beyond the simple variation with two identical wedges or inserts, further individual adaptations to different foot shapes are possible, for example taking into account the order in which the inserts are positioned in the slot provided for this purpose.

The invention is characterized in particular in that a shoe, in particular a sandal and an inlay for a shoe are created, that is characterized by an individual adaptation to the respective foot. It mainly involves a pocket-like slot integrated into the shoe or inlay, designed for at least one insert for the foot, so that the sole or inlay can be adapted to the individual needs and orthopedic situations of a shoe wearer. This takes into account the fact that the height of the longitudinal arch varies among people. This pocket-like slot is conveniently located under the longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer as a particularly important area of the sole and inlay from an orthopedic point of view. Fasteners between the wedge-like inserts and the soles or inserts secure the position of insert or inlay permanently and safely, even under changing loads. It is particularly advantageous that the support of the foot desired by the shoe wearer takes place exactly and precisely where it is orthopedically most important. Even with an unfavorable load on the wedge-like inlay, a displacement from this optimal position is not possible, because this is reliably prevented by the described locking means. Since the insert is always covered by the insole, there is always gentle support of the longitudinal arch when inserting the inlay into the pocket-like slot.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the associated drawing, in which a preferred embodiment with the necessary details and individual parts is presented. The following are shown:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a foot with a sandal underneath,

FIG. 2.1 a sandal with inserts in perspective view,

FIG. 2.2 the sandal from FIG. 2.1 in side view,

FIG. 3 a midsole without fasteners,

FIG. 4 a midsole with fasteners,

FIG. 5 a strap,

FIG. 6 an installed strap,

FIG. 7 a strap with buckles,

FIG. 8 a sandal from below,

FIG. 9 a sandal from above,

FIG. 10 an insole with inserts,

FIG. 11 a section through the sole area of a sandal with slot and insert,

FIG. 12 the bottom of a slot in simplified reproduction,

FIG. 13 a wedge-like insert in perspective view with bridges,

FIG. 14 a pocket-like slot with notches,

FIG. 15 a partial cut through slot and insert and

FIG. 16 a top view of a wedge-like insert just before reaching its end position in the pocket-like slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a foot 50 of a person with the longitudinal arch 51 that is to be specifically supported with the help of appropriate measures on shoe 1 or sandal 2. A view is reproduced from the inside of sandal 2, so that it can be seen that in the midsole 24 a pocket-like slot 7 is formed, in which inserts not shown here can be inserted. Through the slot 7 and the inserts not shown, the footbed 11 is specifically supported or developed in such a way that the longitudinal arch 51 can be optimally supported orthopedically. It can be seen that the sandal 2 has an outsole 4 and an insole 5, inserted between the midsole or midsoles 24. Another such midsole is designated with 10. This sandal 2 can be worn optimally fixed to the foot 50 with the help of the strap 6 and the closure 40 or the buckle 28. The inside is shown with 12, from which the insert not recognizable here can be inserted into the pocket-like slot 7.

FIG. 2.1 shows in a perspective view a shoe 1 formed as a sandal 2 with an upper insole 5 and a lower outsole 4. With such a sandal 2, the strap 6 spanning the foot 50 of the shoe wearer serves as a kind of upper shoe, whereby the strap 6 is also held below the insole 5. The strap 6 is fitted in two parts with a front belt section 25 and a rear belt section 26. Buckles 27, 28 serve as a connection, so to speak, for the production of the upper shoe. The slot 7, which is intended for the height adjustment inserts or the inserts 8, 9 between strap 6 and midsole 10, is recognizable on the inside 12 of the sandal 2. The midsoles 10, 24 are mainly made of cork. The inserts are designed on the top 41 in an arch form in order to optimally support the longitudinal vault 51.

The shoe 1 according to FIG. 2.1 is then also shown in FIG. 2.2 in the side view with optimal view of the outsole 4 and the belt 6 with the front belt section 25 and the rear belt section 26.

In the context of the production of footwear according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows the midsole 10 with adhesive strips 29, 30 for fastening the soles 4, 5, 10 to each other.

FIG. 4 shows a cushion 32 in the heel area. Slot 7 is clearly visible in the form of a circular segment 14 in the area below the longitudinal arch 51 of the human foot 50 with the two wedge-like inserts 8 and 9 with pins 16, 17, 18 or 16 a, 17 a, 18 a on the inlay 8 and pins 16, 17, 18 on the part of the stabilization insert or the inlay 9. Holes 19, 20, 21 in the area of slot 7 correspond with the pins 16, 17, 18 or 16 a, 17 a, 18 a, together as fasteners or locking means 15. The number 31 denotes a field furnished with glue.

FIG. 5 illustrates the belt 6 which is used to encompass the foot 50, with front belt 25 and rear belt 26 without installed buckles. The straps 25, 26 with several holes corresponding to the buckles are in the area of the rear straps 26, shown as an example with the reference number 36.

In FIG. 6, strap 6 is then connected to the cork midsole 10 via seam 37. Also indicated is the pocket-like slot 7, which has a seam 22 on its inside 23, which in a sense specifies the size of the pocket-like slot 7 and is also formed here in the form of a circle segment.

FIG. 7 shows the underside of the midsole 10, where adhesive strips 29, 30 are used to fix it towards the outsole 4. The straps are designated again with the reference numbers 6, 25, 26.

In the illustration according to FIG. 8, the connection is made between straps 6, 25, 26 on the one hand and the lower outsole 4 on the other hand. The reference numbers 8 and 9 in turn refer to the two wedge-like inserts.

FIG. 9 shows a look at an insole 5 with thongs 38 and 39.

Finally, FIG. 10 shows an insole 3 with the slot 7 in the area 13, which corresponds to the longitudinal arch 51 of the foot 50 of the shoe wearer. Here, arbitrarily designed stabilization inserts can be used in the form of small moldings and adapted to the needs of the wearer. Fasteners or locking means 15 are designated with the reference numbers 16-18 or 19-21.

FIG. 11 shows a pocket-like slot 7 in enlarged reproduction in which a wedge-like insert 8 is already inserted. The pocket-like slot 7 is slightly enlarged here to illustrate that the wedge-like insert 8 can be pushed down after insertion into the pocket-like slot 7, so that the locking means 15 in the form of pins 16, 17 can be inserted into the designated holes 19, 20 or the counterpart 45 to the locking means 15. After this has been done, the wedge-like insert 8, 9 can only be removed from the pocket-like slot 7 if it is deliberately lifted a little, whereby it is once again pointed out that here the pocket-like slot 7 is shown too large. The holes 19, 20 are made in the bottom 43 of the pocket-like slot 7 and have exactly the shape of the pins 16, 17. The pins 16, 17 are part of the bottom 42 of the wedge-like inlay 8, 9, whereby the top 41 is adapted to the roof 46 of the pocket-like slot 7 and is in contact there. It is not shown here that the wall 44 of the pocket-like slot 7 is smoothed or covered with an appropriate cloth to facilitate the insertion of the wedge-like inlay 8, 9.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the pocket-like slot 7, whereby it becomes clear that the counterparts 45 or the pins 16, 17 fit exactly into the holes 19, 20, so that then the wedge-like insert 8 not shown here can no longer slip.

Certain variants are shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, whereby here the wedge-like inserts 8, 9 are provided with bars 49, 49′, which are mounted to match the notches 48, 48′ in the roof 46 or in the floor 43 in such a way that the wedge-like insert 8 can be smoothly guided into the insert back designated here with 47 in the pocket-like slot 7.

According to FIG. 15, it is provided an elevation 54 is formed at a distance to the insert back 47, so that a locking groove 58 is formed, in which a correspondingly formed round web 55 of the wedge-like inlay 8, 9 can snap into place, if the wedge-like insert 8, 9 has reached the insert back 47 in the pocket-like slot 7.

FIG. 16 finally shows an embodiment in which small magnets 56 are used, which are arranged in the insert back 47 in such a way that the metal wire 58 assigned to the leading edge 57 of the wedge-like inlay 8, 9 together with them ensures a fixing of the wedge-like inlay 8, 9 in slot 7.

In all the embodiments mentioned, the insert 8, 9 is fixed and immobilized in the pocket-like slot 7 by the locking agents 15 so that the determined optimal support of the foot 50 is always maintained. The wedge-like insert 8, 9 cannot slip—like the insoles—nor can it fall out of the pocket-like slot 7.

A footbed 11 does not necessarily have to be formed in the insole 5, because the wedge-like insert 8, 9 inserted into the pocket-like slot 7 provides the necessary “bulge”, i.e. a kind of footbed. As a rule, however, it is optimal if a standard footbed 11 is pronounced in the insole, so that at least one specification for the curvature to be caused by the insert 8, 9 is specified. The footbed 11 is virtually optimized with this wedge-like insert 8, 9.

All the features mentioned, including those to be taken from the drawings alone, are regarded alone and in combination as essential to the invention. 

1. Apparatus comprising a shoe (1), or sandal (2), with a bottom outsole (4) and an upper insole (5) with footbed (11), possibly one or more midsoles (10) and a closure fixing the shoe (1) or the sandal (2) on the foot (50) of the wearer (40), wherein a pocket-like slot (7) integrated into the shoe (1) or the sandal (2), arranged between the outsole (4) and the insole (5), is intended for at least one wedge-like insert (8, 9) to support and adapt to the longitudinal arch (51) of the foot (5) of the wearer, whereby on its underside (42) the insert (8, 9) has a locking means (15) separable from the pocket-like slot (7) corresponding to the bottom (43) of the slot (7) and adapted to it.
 2. Apparatus comprising an insert (3) for a shoe (1) or sandal (2) with a bottom outsole (4) and an upper insole (5) with footbed (11) and one or more midsoles (10), wherein a pocket-like slot (7) is integrated into an inlay (3) in which the wedge-like inserts (8, 9) for adaptation to the foot (50) can be inserted, whereby on the underside (42) the inserts (8, 9) have a separable locking means (15) correspondingly formed with the counterpart (45) assigned to the bottom (43) of the slot (7).
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket-like slot (7) is arranged in each case on the inside (12) of the shoe (1) or the inlay (3).
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket-like slot (7) is arranged in the area (13) of the shoe (1) or the inlay (3) corresponding to the medial longitudinal arch (51) of the foot (50) of the wearer.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket-like slot (7) is arranged in the midsole (10) or between the midsole (10) and a strap (6) covering the foot (50) and serving as a closure (40).
 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket-like slot (7) has the shape of a circle segment.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket-like slot (7) is limited on the inside by a seam (22).
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that that wherein the pocket-like slot (7) has a wall (44) that is smoothed and designed to support the insertion of the wedge-like insert (8, 9) formed or covered with appropriate fabric.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pocket-like slot (7) has notches (48) in the floor (43) and/or in the roof (46) running in the direction of the insert back (47) that correspond to bars (49) that are arranged and formed on the upper (41) and/or the bottom (42) of the wedge-like insert (8, 9).
 10. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the locking agent (15) arranged on the underside (42) of the wedge-like insert (8, 9) is assigned a corresponding counterpart (45) on or in the bottom (43) of the slot (7).
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the insert (8, 9) has pins (16-18) on its underside (42) serving as a locking means (15) and the slot (7) has correspondingly shaped and arranged holes (19-21) in the bottom (43) acting as a counterpart (45).
 12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the insert (8, 9) is made of plastic and insert (8, 9) and pins (16-18) are formed in one piece.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the insert (8, 9) on its underside (42) and the slot (7) on its bottom (43) have surfaces forming a Velcro closure.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an elevation (54) forming a locking groove (53) is provided in the insert back (47) of the slot (7) on the bottom (43) at a distance to the insert back (47), into which a round crosspiece (55) formed on the underside (42) of the wedge-like inlay (8, 9) can be snapped.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein small magnets (56) are attached to the insert back (47) of the slot (7) that are formed and arranged correspondingly with a metal wire (58) assigned to the front edge (57) of the wedge-like inlay (8, 9).
 16. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the slot (7) is designed for two or more inserts to be arranged on top of each other and to be coupled with each other (8, 9).
 17. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wedge-like inserts (8, 9) have different shape, thickness and/or hardness. 